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By STEVE SEMBRAT steves@leader.net
Saturday, September 21, 2002 Page: 5B
KINGSTON – So far this season, the Sem Femmes have looked more like the
Blaum Bombers.
Thanks to the performance of up-and-coming players such as forward Tamra
Morris and midfielder Caroline Blaum, the Wyoming Seminary field hockey team
has taken no prisoners in its first seven games.
Even on an afternoon when the Blue Knights weren’t at their very best,
Seminary still overwhelmed Dallas, 4-0, in a Wyoming Valley Conference game
Friday.
“Young kids will do that for you,” said Seminary coach Karen Klassner.
“They’re hungry. These kids, with the pressure put on them, have risen to the
occasion.”
Morris, a sophomore who was a backup midfielder last season, scored twice
and raised her league-leading total to 12 goals. Lindsay Foltz tipped in
Blaum’s blast and Ali Kornfeld came off the bench and scored her fifth goal of
the season as the Blue Knights remained unbeaten and unscored upon.
In the first seven games, Seminary has outscored opponents 40-0, with the
closest call a 3-0 victory over Delaware Valley. Granted, the Blue Knights
have some key games ahead, starting with a showdown at Crestwood on Monday,
but last year’s PIAA Class 2A champions have shown that this year’s squad
could be every bit as good.
“The energy they’ve brought has been great,” Seminary co-captain Sam
Lloyd said of her team’s newcomers to the lineup. “They’re adjusting to the
pressure. This game was the culmination of a lot of different efforts. It was
a good test for us and we really worked together as a team.”
Lloyd and the other returning starters are playing as well or better than
expected. Lloyd and Foltz have sparkled despite nagging injuries. Midfielder
Marissa Doyle, the other co-captain, and halfback Marcy Vanderburg are
unheralded but consistently outstanding. All four are senior.
The player Dallas triple-teamed, though, was sophomore Laura Suchoski, who
has been called the center midfielder of the future for the U.S. National Team
program.
“Because we’ve switched around so many positions, we’ve put a lot of
pressure on kids to perform,” Klassner said. “Those kids have stepped up.”
Blaum and senior halfback Lindsay Romanowski did start a few games last
season: Romanowski at the start until she was sidelined by an injury, Blaum at
the end when she became a starter and was a factor in helping Seminary win the
PIAA Class 2A state title.
The rest of the starters are new and highly improved.
Morris, junior forward Erin Kelleher, junior goalie Sara Frangos and
freshman forward Lindsay Conrad are first-year starters who have exceeded
expectations. Kornfeld has added a lot of energy coming off the bench.
“If something is going wrong, our captains will speak up and we’ll get it
worked out,” Morris said. “It’s cool. We really get along as a team.”
Although Seminary outshot Dallas 27-1, the Blue Knights led only 1-0 at
halftime after Morris tipped in a shot by Suchoski past Mountaineer goalie
Roslyn Wentko.
“Their goalie was awesome,” Klassner said of Wentko. “We earned our
goals.”
It was a situation where Seminary might have squeezed out a win or lost in
the past, but these are Sem Femme fatales. The Blue Knights got a great save
of their own from Frangos late in the first half, then showed some killer
instinct by putting the game away on three rapid-fire goals in the second
half.
That didn’t discourage first-year Dallas coach Cindy Maier, though, who is
seeing some good vital signs from her players.
“We have so many girls who are willing to play their hearts out,” Maier
said. “Tying it together is the key. The skills are coming. The
thoughtfulness is coming. They need to tie it all together, and they’ll do
that in time.”
Lehman 2, Meyers 0
WILKES-BARRE – Tracey Hudak recorded her third goal and eighth shutout as
Lake-Lehman defeated Meyers at Miner Park.
Hudak, the goalie for the Black Knights, also takes penalty strokes and
converted her third this season during the second half. Meredith Edwards
scored Lehman’s other goal, her sixth of the season.
Hudak made one save, and got a little help when a shot by the Mohawks hit
the post. She hasn’t allowed a goal this season.
Northwest 2 Elk Lake 0
SHICKSHINNY – Second-half goals by Amanda Dow and Jillian Evert lifted
Northwest to a victory over Elk Lake.
Dow scored her fourth goal of the season just 38 seconds after halftime off
an assist from Krystal Hardiman. Evert’s first goal of the season off an
assist from Amber Black added insurance for the Rangers.
Crestwood 5, Hoban 0
WILKES-BARRE – Kylie Messimer scored twice as Crestwood blanked Bishop
Hoban at Hollenback Park.
Lyndsy Snelson, Amie Survilla and Krista Martinez also scored goals for the
Comets.
Trail 9, Montrose 0
MONTROSE – Vanessa Rhoades and Sam Kropa scored two goals apiece as
Lackawanna Trail defeated Montrose.
Kristen Snyder and Candice Kilmer each added a goal and an assist for the
Lions, and Kristy Kropa, Alyssa Curmaci and Megan Farrell also scored.
Honesdale 3, O’Reilly 2 (OT)
SWOYERSVILLE – Megan Schweighofer scored 4:49 into sudden-victory overtime
as Honesdale rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Bishop O’Reilly.
Jen Derby had a goal and an assist as the Queenswomen jumped out to a 2-0
lead. Meg Mitchell scored the other goal and Maria Bustin had an assist.
The Hornets rebounded to force overtime thanks to goals by Sara Wentz and
Carly Savastano.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS SOCCER
Lehman 3, Dallas 1
LEHMAN TWP. – Nate Carsman scored two second-half goals as Lake-Lehman
posted a come-from-behind victory against Back Mountain rival Dallas in a game
played Thursday afternoon. The game was originally scheduled for Friday.
Ryan Marascio scored a goal to give Dallas a 1-0 lead at halftime. Carsman
tied the game with a goal less than three minutes into the second half and
scored the eventual game-winner 20 minutes later. Kevin Konicki sealed the
game with a goal late in the second half.
Hazleton 2, Seminary 1
WYOMING – Nick Buctos scored twice, including the winner in overtime, as
Hazleton Area edged Wyoming Seminary.
Brian Dempsey scored for Seminary.
WVW 5, Tunkhannock 1
KINGSTON – Jonathan Schmid and Chris Barnard each scored twice as Wyoming
Valley Wset defeated Tunkhannock.
Seton 4, Hafey 0
PITTSTON – Mike Pryor had two goals and an assist to lead Seton Catholic
past Bishop Hafey. Craig Werts and Danny Grabowski also scored for the Eagles.
Nanticoke 1, Seton 0 (OT)
PITTSTON – Dave Leiby scored an unassisted goal in overtime to lead
Nanticoke past Seton Catholic on Thursday. Goalkeeper Chris Dudeck made 20
saves to record the shutout.
Berwick 4, Hafey 0
HAZLETON – Matt Blakeslee, Chris Gensel, Andy Snyder and Edwin Vaquiz
scored a goal apiece to lead Berwick past Bishop Hafey on Thursday. Vaquiz
added a pair of assists.
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS TENNIS
Seminary 7, Seton 0
KINGSTON – Mansee Patel and Allison Handman won in singles and doubles as
Wyoming Seminary swept Seton Catholic.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF
Wyoming Area 207, Tunkhannock 209
EXETER – With the first four golfers tied at 163, Wyoming Area’s Nick
Kozlowski’s score of 44 made the difference as Wyoming Area edged Tunkhannock
at Fox Hill Country Club.
The Warriors’ Jamie Montville and the Tigers’ Colin Hopkins shared medalist
honors, each shooting a 3-over par 38.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S TENNIS
Marywood 9, Gwynedd Mercy 0
SCRANTON – Hanover Area High School graduate Ann Marie Ashton and West
Pittston native Jennifer Whalley won in singles as Marywood swept Gwynedd
Mercy.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
King’s 3, Washington 0
King’s 3, Mary Washington 0
CHESTERTOWN, Md. – King’s women won their first two matches at the
Washington College Invitational.
Katie Buffone had 57 assists on the day to lead the team, and Lake-Lehman
High School graduate Faith O’Dell had 23 kills, 23 service points, and 17 digs
for the Lady Monarchs. Jessica McVey added 18 digs, 13 kills, and 10 service
points in the matches.